Kentish Gazette 12 October 1802.

Friday night last some villains entered the public house at Black Robin's corner near Barham, and carried off a quantity of provisions, Liquors &c. they had, we hear, the audacity to take a cart belonging to a person in the neighbourhood, with which they removed the stolen goods, and got off undiscovered.

From the Kentish Gazette, 31 October 1848.

MANOR OF KINGSTONE. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN,

THAT the Lord of the said Manor has appointed to hold a COURT BARON for the said Manor on MONDAY the 10th of November next, at Ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the House commonly called or known by the name or sign of the "Black Robin," in the parish of Kingston, within the said Manor; at which time and place all and every of the Tenants within the said Manor are required to attend, and do their respective suits and services, according to the customs of the said Manor, and to bring with them their last quitrent receipts, to enter their estates, and to pay their respective quitrents and reliefs, otherwise the usual proceedings will be immediately taken the recovery thereof.

LLEWELYN WYNNE,

Steward of the said Manor.

Lincoln Inn, London,

23rd day of October, 1848.

Kentish Gazette, 11 April 1854.

Stealing Coke - A Serious Charge.

Edmund File, jun., farmer, stealing five hundred weight of coke, the property of Ernest Augustus Stephenson, at Kingston, on the 12th January, 1864.

Mr. Rose prostituted:- Mr. Barrow and Mr. Francis defended the prisoner.

Mr. Rose in opening the case stated that the prisoner was charged with stealing a quantity of coke. The prosecutor lives at Higham House, in the parish of Kingston, and the prisoner was a small farmer living in the adjoining parish of Barham. On the 12th of January last, the prisoner was employed by the prosecutor to bring him a ton of coke from the gas-works at Canterbury; he had been so employed previously. It appeared, that he went with a waggon to the gas works and obtained the coke, the prosecutor having previously ordered it. When at the gas works, the prisoner ordered 5 cwt. of coke to be put in sacks, although there was plenty of room for it loose in the waggon; 15 cwts. were put loose in the waggon. After that the prisoner went and offered to pay for the coke to the clerk, but he said it was not necessary as Mr. Stephenson had ordered it and would therefore pay for it.

He then left with the waggon and arrived at the prosecutor's about five o’clock in the afternoon, when he proceeded to put the loose coke into the cellar. While this was going on, the prosecutor was walking about 100 yards from his yard gate, when ha saw something lying under a tarpaulin; he lifted the tarpaulin up, and found five sacks, exactly the number which the prisoner received at the gas-house. He put his hand under the tarpaulin, and felt the sacks, which he believed to be filled with coke, from the peculiarly crisp feel it possessed. The prosecutor then went back to his house, and told the prisoner of what he had seen, to which the prisoner replied, that the sacks contained coals and coke which he had purchased; and that he had bought 2 cwt. of coke at the gas-works. The prosecutor expressed his surprise that so small a quantity was sold by the gas company.

The prisoner answered:— "Men that are at work night and day are glad to get a shilling, if they can."

Now, what was meant by that statement, he (Mr. Rose) could hardly say, unless it was that the coke had been sold out of the ordinary way to the prisoner.

However, whatever was meant by that statement, it was quite clear, that when the prisoner went to the clerk and offered to pay for Mr. Stephenson's coke, he did not say anything about the 2 cwt. of coke alleged to have been bought by him. The prosecutor did not arrive at his house until after the prisoner had commenced depositing the coke into the cellar, and was therefore unable to say how much he had put in.

Such were the facts of the case; five sacks of coke were found 50 yards from the prosecutor's yard gates, exactly the number received at the gas-works. Then again there was the fact, that there was no necessity for any portion of the coke being placed in sacks. Besides, the prisoner had made a statement that he had bought 2 cwt. of coke at the gas-works, but he would call witnesses to prove that he had done nothing of the kind. It was not necessary to prove that the whole of the coke seen by the side of the road was the property of the prosecutor, in order to convict the prisoner; but on the contrary, if the jury believed any portion of it belonged to then they would convict the prisoner.

The learned gentleman then called witnesses in support of his statements, but as their evidence was similar, in every respect
of that given by them before the magistrates, and which was published in extenso at the time, we only give now the fresh points raised in the course of cross-examination.

The prosecutor repeated his evidence.

Cross-examined by Mr. Barrow:— Could not say how long it was before the coke brought by the prisoner that he had observed the quantity of coke in the cellar. The sacks of coke he saw lying in the road were opposite his gardener's cottage. There is a fall in the road leading from the main road to the prosecutor's house. Was not aware that on previous occasions the prisoner had left a portion of his load at the side of the main road rather than take it down the fall. Did not look into any of the sacks, but certainly felt four, and was perfectly prepared to swear that they contained coke, and not coal. He told witness he had a sack of coal for Coltham; did not mention any other name, but might have added, "Coltham, at the Robin." The prisoner did not come to witness and ask to have the coke in his cellar weighed; but he was aware that he had called at his home end saw his servant; that was the day after the occurrence. No application was made to him for that purpose, nor had it been weighed.

Re-examined:— The distance from the lodge to the turnpike road is about 500 yards, while the sacks of coke were lying about 100 yards from the lodge.

Edward Dadds stated what occurred at the gas-works when the prisoner received the coke on the day named.

Cross-examined:— Was discharged from the gas-works shortly after the occurrence, on suspicion of having sold coke and not accounted for it; but had since been taken back again. Did not sell the prisoner any coke; he only received it of him for allowance. Did not receive 3s. of the prisoner. Believed the prisoner asked witness the price of coke. In the course of the day witness gave his mates a share of the beer bought with the allowance money given by the prisoner. On previous occasions the prisoner had taken coke away in sacks. On the Monday following witness went over to Coltham, but did not tell him that the prisoner bought loose coke or a sack of him. Went to prisoner’s home, but did not tell his wife that witness wanted him to go to Mr. Stephenson's and say he only paid 1s. to witness for allowance. Had never stated that he had sold the prisoner 2 cwt. of coke on the day in question.

Re-examined:— On previous occasions the prisoner had left 3 or 4 cwt. of the ton for Mr. Stephenson until the following day.

It was a common thing to receive allowance from persons whom the men in the gas-works carried up the coke.

Mr. Stephenson re-called; 4s. was to be paid the prisoner for the carriage of the coke from Canterbury to the prosecutor's house.

John White and Wm. Eldridge having been examined, Mr. James Sladden Browne was called and deposed that he was clerk to the Gas Work Company.— Remembered a person coming on the 12th of Jan. for a ton of coke for Mr. Stephenson. Produced the counterpart of the check given on that occasion; none was sold or delivered without the check. Saw File on that occasion, at the window of witness's office; he came to pay for the coke for Mr. Stephenson, but as that gentleman had ordered it, he objected to receive the money, as there was some suspicion against the accused in connection with Mr. Stephenson's coke on previous occasions. Saw the waggon pass out of the yard, and thought it was an extraordinary thing for coke to be placed in sacks when there was plenty of room in the body of the waggon for it. Mentioned the quantities of coke sold on the day named in the indictment, and the parties to whom it was sold. Every morning and night the coke was drawn out of the retorts into the cellar. No one was authorised to sell coke or take money for it, but witness.

Cross-examined:— They had had suspicions of coke being taken, but never realised them. He explained the reason why Dadds had been discharged and taken on again. The coke was weighed as it was delivered, at least it was placed in baskets made expressly to contain a half-cwt.

George Fagg, a lad, remembered watching something for he prisoner in the middle of January. The latter asked him if he would watch three sacks of coke for him and earn 1d. until his boy came. It was between 5 and 6 o'clock, he sat down on the sacks, and took care of them for about a quarter of an hour, when the prisoner's boy arrived with the cart, and the sacks were placed in it. While sitting on one of the sacks, three pieces of coke fell out.— The sacks were quite full.

Cross-examined:— The three pieces of coke all came out if the same sack.

Thos. E. Quested, constable of Barham, served the prisoner with a summons to attend before the magistrates about the coke, when the latter said it was not 5 sacks of coke, but 2 sacks of coke and 3 cwt. of coal.

Mr. Barrow then submitted to the Court that the charge alleged against the prisoner was not one of larceny, as the asking of the coke did not embrace a trespass. There must be some act to put an end to the bailment before a larceny should be committed. In the present case, the allegation was, that the five sacks contained coke; each sack formed a bulk of itself, and there were five distinct deliveries. Before, therefore, a larceny could be committed, of that coke, it was necessary that the prisoner should have broken the bulk of some one sack. He cited the case of The Queen v. Porter, 20 Law Journal, p. 101, in support of his argument, and other cases.

Mr. Fransis followed on the same side, observing that the principle involved in the objection could not be doubted, seeing that there was a long list of decisions of the courts in favour of it.

Mr. Rose replied, and the Court refused to allow the objection.

Mr. Barrow then addressed the jury at some length in defence; after which the following witnesses were examined:—

Wm. Filmer was in the service of Mr. Horn, at the "Red Lion," in January last. The prisoner borrowed three sacks to put some coal in; the same day the sacks were filled with coal and left in the stable. On the following Saturday, the prisoner brought witness's master some fodder in a waggon; in the afternoon, the prisoner brought three empty sacks into the stable, when witness filled them with the coals contained in the other sacks. He heard a waggon go on just after; did not see the waggon.

Evans Cock remembered going with the prisoner to fetch Mr. Stephenson's coke. Took two ton of fodder in the waggon to the "Red Lion," and some empty sacks. Then went to the gas-works; after being there a short time the prisoner came, and witness heard him say he wanted some coke for himself; he also asked the price. One man said it was 18d. and one 16d. The last tally he heard call was 32, which basket witness carried up himself. Did not see any money pass from the prisoner to one of the men. When the waggon was filled, witness went with it to the "Red Lion," when the prisoner got on to the waggon and said he had some coal to take. Witness then went down into the town, and subsequently returned and caught up to the waggon. Just before reaching Mr. Stephenson's spouse, the prisoner said he should take his coal and coke out; he did so, and also hailed the chains and tarpaulin out. It was a bad road all round the home and not fit to go with a load. After delivering the prosecutor's coke, they went to the "Black Robin," where one sack was delivered. Before going to the "Black Robin," the five sacks were put into the waggon again. Upon caching Covett Lane, three sacks were left there; witness had one of the sacks of coal, and paid the prisoner again for it on the next week. Witness took his sack home in his brother's waggon.

Cross-examined:— Lives with the prisoner's father as waggoner. Did not tee the coal put on the waggon at the "Red Lion." Witness’s sack was not much more than half-fall.

Wm. Foreman:- In January last was in the prisoner’s employ; went to Mr. Cox's farm got a horse and took it to the prisoner’s farm and placed it in a cart. Then went to Covett Lane and took up three sacks. The witness Fagg assisted him. Afterwards drove to the prisoner’s house, and emptied the sacks into the coal-hole:— one of the sacks contained coke, and the other two coal.

Crosse-examined:. —Two of the sacks were not quite full; the third was.

James Coultham, landlord of the "Black Robin, Kingston:- Remembered the 12th of January, when the prisoner brought him a sack of coke. The witness Dadds called at his home the following Monday, and asked where young Mr. File lived, as he wanted to see him about the coke he had for Mr. Stepheson, for he had got turned away from the gas-works respecting it.

Witness then said what for?

Dadds replied:- "After Mr. File had the ton of coke for Mr. Stephenson, he asked for a hundred for himself. I said he could have it, if he paid allowance. He then asked what he was to fetch: I said—not anything, as it will cause suspicion with the governor,—but leave the money with us. He gave me a shilling and I told him to take a sack of coke."

Cross-examined:— Witness is brother-in-law to the prisoner. The conversation took place outside witness’s door.

A number of persons were called to character, who spoke highly of the prisoner for honesty and integrity.

Mr. Rose replied on the defence set up, and pointed out its inconsistencies; after which the Chairman summed up very briefly. It was quite clear that if the defence set up was true, the prisoner had obtained 2 cwt of coke of the man Dadds surreptitiously, as the delivery of the ton of coke was clearly shown by the servants of the Gas Company.

The jury then retired to consider their verdict. After a short absence they returned into Court, with a verdict of "Not guilty."

Kentish Gazette. Tuesday 05 August 1856.

HORRID MURDER OF TWO YOUNG FEMALES BETWEEN DOVER AND FOLKESTONE.

A painful degree of excitement was occasioned in these two towns, and surrounding neighbourhood, on Sunday, by the discovery of the murdered bodies of two young females named Back, of the respective ages of 17 and 19. It appears that a Neapolitan named Tedea Bedenies, (sic Dedea Redanies) in the 4th company of the 2nd battalion, 2nd regiment British Swiss Legion, now stationed at Shorncliffe, had for some time past been paying his addresses to Caroline Back, aged 19, the daughter of a laundress, residing in Albion Place, Dover. He paid a visit to the house on Saturday evening, and while there quarrelled with her, and accused her of carrying on a correspondence with a sergeant of the same regiment. In consequence she returned him his portrait which he had given her, and on taking it he said it was no good. Maria was present during the time. He returned to the house at three o’clock in the morning, and prevailed on Caroline to consent to go with him to the camp to spend the day, accompanied by her sister Maria. They cleaned themselves and left for that purpose; and were seen passing the "Royal Oak" on the road at about five in the morning. They were remarked as being particularly clean and tidy, and one of them wearing lavender boots. Nothing more was seen of them till past seven o’clock when a man named Curling, who worked on the South-Eastern Railway, having been to Dover to see a friend off, was returning, when he sat down on a bank bordering the sea, and took out a newspaper to read. Seeing something lying on the grass at a short distance, in a hollow close by the footpath, leading to Folkestone, he called out, thinking it was a person asleep, and finding no response went to the spot and discovered one of the murdered bodies. He ran to a friend whom he had left a little behind, and then they discovered the second body lifeless, at about twelve paces from the other.

This was about 2 1/2 miles from Folkestone and 3 1/2 from Dover. They immediately gave information to Superintendent Steer, of the former place, who with assistance got the bodies removed to the nearest cottage; and Dr. Bateman, who was called in, pronounced death to have resulted from the stabs which the deceased had received. The elder sister had received four stabs near the heart, three of which penetrated the lungs, and any one of the three was calculated to prove fatal. Her clothes were also much disordered. The younger girl, Maria, appeared to have struggled hard with her assailant. Several of her fingers were severely cut through her gloves, by some sharp knife; and various of the wounds which she had received in the upper part of her person, were pronounced to be mortal. The condition of the elder was also such as to awaken suspicions of the close intimacy that had existed; but whether any violence had been exercised in this respect, we are at present unable to state.

The supposed murderer was seen running through the village of Capel-le-Ferne shortly after the occurrence, wearing a military cap and a black mantle turned inside out, belonging to one of the females. Various reports were in circulation as to the places at which he was afterwards seen, and among them this city, but we could learn nothing authentic of this. He was traced yesterday to Black Robin’s Corner, near Barham Downs, and thence to a cottage in Broome Park, where he had some bread and cheese, for which he gave the woman of the house sixpence, he afterwards went to the house of a person named Atwood, at Lower Hardres, where he wrote two letters—then went to the "Horse Shoes" public-house and had some beer, and posted two letters, one of which was addressed to Mrs. Caroline Back, the mother of the deceased, and the other to Lieut. Schmid, surgeon of his regiment. There all clue of him was lost, notwithstanding the vigilance of Superintendents Walker, Stokes, Robins, and Steer; but the letters were obtained and impounded; and we should have thought that means would have been obtained for learning their contents, but neither the post master nor the magistrate to whom they were taken felt himself justified in opening them; upon which they were forwarded to their destination, by special messengers, with the view of learning the contents. The murderer is 25years of age, 5ft. 6in. high, with black hair, no whiskers and small black moustache.

Mr. Delasaux opened an inquiry on the bodies of the deceased yesterday, and after taking some evidence to justify a farther inquiry, adjourned the sitting.

APPREHENSION OF THE MURDERER.

The active steps adopted by the different Superintendents left little chance of the murderer long escaping detection. It appears that in consequence of the in formation they disseminated, parties were on the look out in every direction, and whither also various individuals were despatched to arrest the fugitive. The last seen of him, according to the above account, was at Lower Hardres, between twelve and one yesterday afternoon. Between three and four a man stopped Mr. Lake, of Milton, and asked him for work, and while doing so, he suddenly pointed to the approach of the murderer, saying “here comes the fellow.” But how he came to dive into the subject so readily, we are at a loss to comprehend, as was Mr. Lake, who had said nothing to him about the affair; nor did he know who the man was. At that moment, a number of Mr. Lake’s men were also on the qui vive, they having received intimation of the horrid crime and the probability of the murderer coming that way. He had first come in the direction of Howfield and crossed the viaduct, and suspecting that he was the object of their observation and pursuit, he stabbed himself three times in the breast before he was reached, and fell to the ground bathed in blood. The men had felt at first a little intimidated when they saw him flourishing the knife, and something of a stiletto form; but seeing what he did they bounced upon him and at once made him secure. The attendance of Mr. Bond, surgeon, of Chartham, was procured, but he could not tell whether the wounds would prove mortal. His apprehensions were that an internal haemorrhage might be going on; the result of which might easily be conjectured.

Information was speedily conveyed to Canterbury, and Superintendent Clements went and took charge of the man, brought him to Canterbury, and conveyed him to the hospital, where he was left in care of a police constable.

The murderer, and would be suicide, was examined by Mr. Reid, who could not pronounce the stabs he had given himself fatal, though he was equally at a loss whether the internal flow of blood might not terminate in that. It being thought advisable to have the man undisturbed, no unnecessary questions were put to him; but the attendance of a gentleman was obtained, as interpreter, and to him the prisoner confessed that he had done something very dreadful. Everything necessary was done to revive the prisoner; and at nine o'clock he had much improved, and there were hopes that his recovery would take place.

The murderer is described as indicating nothing very furious; his height is little over five feet and a half, slight in stature, small features, and somewhat sickly in appearance.

When arrested he had with him the black capes belonging to his unfortunate victims; one of which he carried on his arm, and the other he wore, evidently to hide his military jacket. This cape had three perforations on the left breast—whether through stabbing himself, or one of his unfortunate victims when she wore it, we are unable to state. Had there been a more efficient parish constabulary his apprehension would have been effected earlier; for at five o’clock yesterday morning, the murderer was found asleep at Black Robin’s Corner by two boys, who roused him. Had there been a vigilant parish constable he would have been on the alert and soon followed in his track. This like many other cases shows the importance of having an efficient county constabulary, with prompt and methodical means of communication. We find no fault with the superintendents—they did all they could, aided by our own city police, one of whom (Inspector Spratt) posted as far as Sittingbourne and had to trudge his way home on foot. This ought not to have been. He should have been mounted, or at least had a vehicle.

A melancholy gloom has been thrown over the minds of many who knew the unfortunate deceased, as they were very respectable young women for their sphere in life and bore a good character.

Further reading click here.

Kentish Gazette 09 March 1869.

KINGSTON.

A delightful evening was spent by the country lads and lasses at the famous old "Black Robin" Inn, on the night of Tuesday week, in consequence of the worthy landlord (Mr. Coltham), having thrown open his room for a dance.

The room was beautifully decorated by Miss Coltham.

After a breakfast served up in "mine host's" best style, the party broke up, all highly delighted with their evenings entertainment.

From the Kentish Gazette, 15 February, 2001.

Licensee Jill White (above) takes refuge from the white-water rapids of the Nailbourne as it races past her "Black Robin" pub at Kingston.

Ms. White, who has just lost a planning battle to close the pub, was optimistically showing a "business as usual" sign.

Her pub has been marooned in flood water since November, but the latest deluge was the worst.